Mad Scene 2006: "Il dolce suono"-Christiane Boesiger (Lucia)

[chrisscruzzz]

EWWWWWWWWW!!!! >:P

[ReginaResnik]

where is belcanto???? Oh , pitty....

[ferrykalos]

Please, don't let her to sing it again!

[penguindiva7]

I have just decided that if I ever get to perform this role, I want to play with a corpse in this scene.

[evacookie913]

it's really disturbing, Lucia in a bride dress covered with blood AND embracing a dead man AND thinking he's Edgardo and getting undressed...it's the most disturbing Mad Scene scenery I've seen until now

[hhvelasq]

@evacookie913 I feel the same. Still in shock.

[Zaputero]

Very interesting hearing the bass saying "eccola!", as she would have just appeared and the corus singing with surprise for her terrible look while she has benn sitted in the floor for a while. I ask myself if the regisseur has any idea of italian and knows what the lyrics says.

[npatricialm]

@Zaputero

She's singing about the sweet voice of the mand she really loves. Not her husband.. she was forced to get married with somebody else by her brother, she killed him because she was going to be reunited with her love, but that never happened...

[Zaputero]

@npatricialm

Excuse me. I only want to remark that the action over the stage has nothing to do with the corus and the bass are saying. Anyone who doesn't know the drama won't be able to interpret what you are saying. He would think that the dead man she is embracing is Edgardo instead of Artutro. The regisseur must show the original work of the author and not his own interpretation.

[mrlammermoor]

@Zaputero

Actually he says "eccola" - "here is she"... "here" doesn't necessarily imply that she is actually coming from somewhere

Actually the Chorus says "oh giusto cielo! par dalla tomba uscita" - "Oh fair heaven! She seems to have emerged from a tomb"... also not necessarily referring to coming from somewhere because they are referring to the look on her face and (if wanted) the blood on her dress.

[Zaputero]

@mrlammermoor

I will never say "Eccola!" refered to a person who is in a place but to someone who has just appeared. What could this mean in the dramatic context of this moment? "Look at here! Haven't you seen Lucia lying on the floor"? And the chorus sing astonished about the look of her face, as you say. This has a drammatic meaning: you don't react astonished to something you have in front of you for several minutes. This text only has sense if Lucia has just appeared at this moment.

[Chivalryaintdead]

They used a REAL glass ARMONICA! Doesn't matter what her performance is like, I love it just for the fact that it was played the way it was meant to be played.

[steff7777777]

I totally hate her performance... she's not into character at ALL.. =/

[shaby3333]

another tomb of opera.

[AOG93]

Her sitting there, staring at her dead husband, while saying ''Il dolce suono/mi colpi di sua voce...· as if thiking: "Hm, maybe I'll buy that pink dress.." doesn't make sense, nor does it make sense that she's stroking her dead husband while singing of her beloved Edgardo...but she IS insane...

Anyway, Maria Callas always said that the insinuation of an act carries great dramatic strength, more than showing the act itself, that's why she always eliminated the dagger. I agree.

[PhilosoFeline]

@AOG93 Dude! She's hallucinated ghosts and shit, it's totally probably that in her madness she thinks her dead husband his Edgardo. I mean, she starts to undress him as she sings about being able to enjoy the bounty of love or whatever euphemism Donizetti used for sex, lol. He's just a body there on which she can project her fantasy.

I think she does a fantastic job of acting bat-shiz crazy.

[PhilosoFeline]

@AOG93 Dude! She's hallucinated ghosts and shit, it's totally probably that in her madness she thinks her dead husband his Edgardo. I mean, she starts to undress him as she sings about being able to enjoy the bounty of love or whatever euphemism Donizetti used for sex, lol. He's just a body there on which she can project her fantasy.

I think she does a fantastic job of acting bat-shiz crazy.

However, I do think her voice sounds a bit hollow in her middle range.

[manystar]

Magnificent!

[Tenorbravo]

This is the first time I see the "IL Dolce suono" showing a dead husband...I believe it can be improved...The idea is good....Her voice is beautiful....But I think something is missing...a better bedroom.... and more people wathching what´s happening to Lucia.?????

[petelovesbevsills]

absolute and complete rubbish . Donizetti would have hung his head in deep shame if he had seen this nonsense. pure stupidity and singing of a standard that has never been achieved before......crap!

[hanaryukoku]

Disagree. I LOVE the modern setting, it adds a whole new darkness to the setting of this particular opera, it compliments it well. Althought ofcourse it wouldn't work for most opera's, it does in this case in my opinion.

[ooPANxx]

Best version

[regardsfrom]

I don't like this - too modern too cheap looking and such bad presentation of the soprano - she could have at least pull her hair up and wear more theatrical makeup than looking common and regular. her voice doesn't do it any favors either.

[tothelandofnod]

Agreed; better this than, Vitas trying to sing ... I wanted to cut my ears off with those electric violins.

[mrlammermoor]

you are SO right, and why can't she clean her dress?

[regardsfrom]

because she is on stage. are you a moron?

[Frienze7]

I agree... The stage seems very open, not as dramatic as it should be. I don't like that they show his body. In most productions, this is always off stage. But I'm very old fashioned when it comes to this. Lucia is simply my favorite opera. I have very strong feelings, =)

What's with the tree, too? Usually its held in a ballroom...

But her voice is beautiful and the acting is good. I'll give this production that much.

[regardsfrom]

Thank you, I appreciate it that finally someone can see thru this.

I am also very old fashioned and some things should remain that way.

After all, if they want contemporary art they should be listening to Britney.

I cant believe I got -7 for stating my opinion.

[petelovesbevsills]

@regardsfrom Now you only have -6! We have got to remember that mediocre performances are the in thing nowadays. and audiences shriek their approval for less than mediocre singing. The nice aunty singing here would not even have got past the start line in the Metropolitan auditions 25 years ago but is probably their regining prima donna now. With luck, I'll get even more thumbs down than you but I certainly won't be losing sleep over it.

[regardsfrom]

@petelovesbevsills :))

[marrieter08]

I like modern staging

[xXMayfuyuXx]

As do I..

Not to mention, I think she does well to seem like a mad bride imagining marrying her actual true love. the low hair, lack of theatrical makeup and thin dress help this-at least it does to me. Especially since a thin dress is easier to move around in.

[BetuliaLiberata]

You cannot move the "time" line of an opera like this one. The story happen in a castle, there's a fountain, there's white gown in which Lucia should be wearing when she kills him. Bringing it to the 21st century makes all the "magic" go down the drain. Listen to the music-It's not modern, it's ethereal-It belongs in the 18th or 19th century. Some operas-RARELY work with a "present" staging-La Boheme...I think that's all. La Fanciulla for was composed with music that was new contemporary stage.

[Tristiano]

YEs indeed! These productions are nothing more than CRAP. I detest "modern" productions with a vengence. They ALL look camp,silly and catalan/modernist uber junk. I really really pray now that the world has moved on so will these AWFUl productions. I mean who REALLY feels these are out of context costumes/sets/movements and bodies that are randomly "placed" here and there like corpses ?MANY DO. The Opera form has gone down the drain! The Mets Gelb is a geek and this show has NO SALE all over it!

[BetuliaLiberata]

And LaFanciulla still follows Italian opera tradition, but with some AMERICAN thematics in it. It is ok because the composer did it like that, the Wild WEST and all that. Opera is supposed to be a "supra reality"-another dimension, evrything is hightened. You do not go to the opera to see "OUR time reality" you go to see a story that is being told as if it were true, but it happened in the past. (mythical or not) But it has to convince you (move you). Lulu is modern and it does not have magic!

[grancucharon]

I think I heard a mobile at 1.58

[GoBogi]

Maybe I'm just nitpicking, but I woudl have been a bit pissed if she had shoved my head in her crotch. Just my opinion.

[chevrox]

Wonderful performance, have to complain though that modern staging really takes away the "spectacle" aspect of theatrical art.

[corellithebest]

Yes, i dislike modern staging, as well.

[operagirl53]

This is totally fabulous!! I absolutely adore the glass harmonica; it is so haunting. I have never seen a performance with this creative and unusual staging.

Thanks so much for posting it!!!

[lakme76]

oh mio Dio!!!!!NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[KitanaiBaishunfu]

I like how you actually see the dead husband rather than just having her walk on stage covered in blood. But both interpretations have their strengths...

But wow.. great Lucia...

[ladyvalito]

i don't have words to say the felings that she make me feel... soberbia!!! is a great singer & actress, make me cry...

[girardje70]

very good soprano ,she is beautiful

brava

[operadetoulon]

Great

[coralrabida]

:) Bella

[OperaMagnaNews]

Very nice!

[pawelmaz]

brava!!!

[qutoobe]

Fantastic! I have been searching for this aria all night. I was disappointed with Montserrat's version, disappointed with Callas' version (go figure), but this one won me! Christiane, Brava!!! And kudos to the dead guy.....j/k

[manystar]

Interesting aproach...more simple and lush

[trumansf]

I think its way to vulgar, the staging that is. Vocal scills of hers are not that great. The trully valuable thing about this is that it is a glass harmonica

[chryssanthemum]

gosh... she's so good...!!!! i love the way she interpreted the piece... made my goosebumps!!!

[altodivo]

WHO is this? WHERE was this? I normally hate this kind of staging but I like this...

[Gustavian]

Beautiful voice, great actress, pretty woman! Truly art!

Gustavo Monastra (tenor)

[mrlammermoor]

@ck8289

reading this dsicussion it rather looks like YOU start the personal attacks. sorry, you seem canting to me.

[operalover23]

@ck8289

don't worry about me. be sure i heared loads of Lucias in my life on the stages of the world, so i am perfectly aware what Ms Boesiger does or does not.

when did callas sing beautifully? never in her life. she was always expressive, she did not really care for beauty.

I wonder what knowledge you have about singing technique or belcanto singing. I dislike to say it that harsh, but according to some of your favourites: not much.

[ck8289]

Dear operalover23,

We have different opinion here.I have expressed mine. Any personal attack wouldn't make yours prevail. End of story.

I wish you to enjoy Ms Boesiger's performance and your " loads of Lucias " in good health and great spirit.

[ck8289]

I really don't like to say any "F" word and "S" word, but this is really extremly bad tast. For Ms Boesiger, overaction on the stage could not compensating your poor bel canto skiil. From the stage director, you should find a new job

[operalover23]

Well, I have to congratulate both Ms. Boesiger and the stage director for this stunning mad scene. How good I found her acidentally on here. Fabulous. It is theatre what is happening here not meaningless sound procution.

I hope ck8289 doesn't have a job in opera buisness, it could be very very boring.

[ck8289]

I must say you may not hear or/and watch a good lucia production. My recommendation: any of Callas's or Sutherland's lucia recordings and Joan Sutherland's 1982 Lucia Med production on DVD.

I don't have any job or career in opera business. However I think this kind of production ruined this great bel canto masterpiece. Her Playing the "dead" body may not be "boring" but repelling.

P.S. Opera is about Singing beautifully. Ms Boesiger didn't demonstrate the capability here.

[voicelistener]

well done!

[Plantaeforce]

I'm so glad this video was actualy labeled correctly. BEAUTIFUL VOICE!!!

[AnoMundi]

What a clear, strong, and beautiful voice Christiane Boesiger has! Loved it! Diva!

[stephpyle06]

AMAZING!!!

[ahmadjawadi]

Just one word: SUPER.

[donatello1]

Where is this production from?

[operabas]

This productin is from Linz Opera, Austria

[gazulet]

i want to ask someother thing which is not related to musicality, but related to the stage:P

there are 2 women behind Boesiger,one is black dressed, the other is yellow...

and; what is the black dressed one doing to the other one at the 22.-23. second???

:PPPP

[meern19652208]

you have a hawkeye!! I read the libretto, there's nothing about this.... She just likes pussies?

[classicalgal14]

Love your voice and acting skills on stage, pretty I wish for the chance to be on stage one day!

[paminaase]

I'm never going to get bored watching this video. Everytime I watch I find a new thing. A new expression or a new detail.

[Axel23632]

Fantastic! Very, very, very MAD!!!!!!!!

[obcessivepink]

You have to admit, she really does look mad... Genuine stuff there. =-)

[niklausse]

Opera goes Necrophilic! =/

[00ceroalaizquierda00]

menudo montaje má feo no me gusta nada... y está totalmente decontextualizado

[magicflute3]

very beautiful- this singer is really interesting: a tue artist

[paminaase]

sensational and ultimate! this is an example denoting that music lives on stage by opera. I wonder if I can find the whole opera on dvd? Anyone has an idea?

[dsimicevic]

I like it ... it is a little bit different ... but it´s a awesome voice, minimalistic scenario... It´s good.

[dsimicevic]

I like it ... it is a little bit different ... but it´s a awesome voice, minimalistic scenario... It´s good.

[drdre333]

Nice to hear the glass harmonica instead of the flute.  What production is this from? I'm assuming by the singer's name and the wacky production it's somewhere in Germany.

[mrlammermoor]

Assuming by you're stupid comment you are American?

Very intense acting, beautiful singing, very interesting direction

[enedving]

Assuming by your bad grammar you don't care enough to insult correctly? ;)